Also, determine what shoe is best for you with a visit to your local running store. But buy follow-on shoes from the Internet. January can also show huge savings since they are retiring the previous year's model.

One other thing (besides shoes) I found to be worth the fairly hefty price I paid for it was a waterproof, wind proof, thin but insulated jacket for winter running. I bought the Brooks Silver Bullet jacket and it was a pretty penny, but I wore it nearly every single day from November - March. It looks as good as new. It keeps me so warm. I've fallen in it and it didn't rip. definitely worth it if you plan to run in the cold.

I'm in Calgary. We now have target and I agree their c9 brand is good. Also old navy, superstore (lablaws), Walmart, etc. as for shoes, that's harder, I stock up when I'm in the US. Runningwearhouse will ship to a US addres in 48 hrs if you are vacationing. You can order from runningwearhouse or holabirdsports to Canada if you like mizuno shoes. I actually switched to mizuno wave rider shoes in part because I can have them shipped from the US. When they are on clearance they cost approx $70 a pair. Good luck!

I credit better gear with running more. I've tried the cheap route when I was in my 20's and stopped once the weather got nasty. This past Winter I invested in a great lightweight jacket [Patagonia Wind Shield] and ended up running in shorts more than I can remember. I got it on clearance and saved a ton. I also buy older versions of shoes rather than the current model - save again.

Having run for decades I've built up a healthy collection of clothing, some 20 years old, so most of my purchases are shoes, socks & shorts. Running Warehouse is my go to place to purchase gear. My largest expense is race fees. Running doesn't have to be expensive unless you're a gadget freak. The way I look at it, at my age [56] whatever I spend on running is that much [and more] I’m saving on medical bills! Besides, at our age you can’t put a price on our health and fitness.

Some of the high-mileage runners here spend more per year on running than I do on cycling. (They have posted their shoe lists on the forum before, along with the amounts spent.) Cycling has higher start-up costs (bike, bike shoes if you have clipless pedals, helmet) but all of those items last a long time. Some people say that they have been using the same bike shoes for a decade. (Tires do need replacing and an annual bike check-up is recommended, but if you learn basic maintenance skills, you can perform most of the minor maintenance items yourself.)

That's not to say that cycling can't get expensive. It can. But there are ways to manage the costs. Not everyone needs a high-end racing bike.

I buy 2-3 pairs of shoes per month so after a year it still comes out to around $3000 or so but that's kitten play compared to my bike, ski, and car habits. I think those three hobbies total out to around $25K per year. Ooof, it hurts when I print it out like that.

Running doesn't even require a lot of shoes. A few pair per year would really do. Clothing doesn't even have to be tech material considering people ran before the invention of tech material.

Some of the high-mileage runners here spend more per year on running than I do on cycling. (They have posted their shoe lists on the forum before, along with the amounts spent.) Cycling has higher start-up costs (bike, bike shoes if you have clipless pedals, helmet) but all of those items last a long time. Some people say that they have been using the same bike shoes for a decade. (Tires do need replacing and an annual bike check-up is recommended, but if you learn basic maintenance skills, you can perform most of the minor maintenance items yourself.)

That's not to say that cycling can't get expensive. It can. But there are ways to manage the costs. Not everyone needs a high-end racing bike.

I buy 2-3 pairs of shoes per month so after a year it still comes out to around $3000 or so but that's kitten play compared to my bike, ski, and car habits. I think those three hobbies total out to around $25K per year. Ooof, it hurts when I print it out like that.

Running doesn't even require a lot of shoes. A few pair per year would really do. Clothing doesn't even have to be tech material considering people ran before the invention of tech material.

I live paycheck to paycheck and I just go out in my old sweats and a tank top (or a sweater if it's cold). I know that it's probably not cool to say this, but my shoes come from Target. Then again, I'm a beginner and i'm not doing 50 plus miles a week. With my hectic work schedule, I'm lucky if I get out there 4 times a week. Just do what's right for you. A 100 dollar investment in shoes is much better than 50 bucks a month for a gym membership.

Running is so expensive because advertisers and marketing departments created a "need' where one did not exist or was questionable at best.

I started running in the late '70's. There were no heart rate monitors, GPS watches, gels, fuel belts, hydration systems, etc, etc, etc., all things that people on these forums say they can't do without. Running was generally done in cotton t-shirts and gym shorts (the original Champion stuff that was made in the US was a premium product and lasted for years). If it was cold you wore your cotton Champion hoodie and sweatpants. If you were thirsty you waited until you got home or drank from a public water fountain and you didn't have to have a sip every 5-10 minutes.

This is no different than marketing creating a need for bottled water, designer handbags, 500 channels on cable TV, a bunch of fancy weight machines that aren't as effective a barbell, dumbbells, a bench and a squat rack. You can add to the list if you want to.

Running is so expensive because advertisers and marketing departments created a "need' where one did not exist or was questionable at best.

I started running in the late '70's. There were no heart rate monitors, GPS watches, gels, fuel belts, hydration systems, etc, etc, etc., all things that people on these forums say they can't do without. Running was generally done in cotton t-shirts and gym shorts (the original Champion stuff that was made in the US was a premium product and lasted for years). If it was cold you wore your cotton Champion hoodie and sweatpants. If you were thirsty you waited until you got home or drank from a public water fountain and you didn't have to have a sip every 5-10 minutes.

This is no different than marketing creating a need for bottled water, designer handbags, 500 channels on cable TV, a bunch of fancy weight machines that aren't as effective a barbell, dumbbells, a bench and a squat rack. You can add to the list if you want to.

Very true, and part of the equation is that people in general like to buy gear. Part of the enjoyment of a hobby can be the "stuff" that goes with that hobby. "Boys and their toys," as the saying goes. Running has so little in the way of gear to begin with that any little gizmo or doodad grabs attention. Shoes, shorts, shirts are about all you really need (and only one item on that list is statutory). The other stuff is just for fun.

Coming from a cyclist to a runner... running is wayyy less expensive! I don't have to buy $100 spandex and $200 shoes ALL the time anymore. Let's just be honest for a second... I am a hugeee cheap-o, but when it comes to my feet/legs, I had to spend about $120 on a pair of good running shoes and it about killed me, but it feels so much better. No more black toenails {embarrassing and gross, I know}, no more back aches, no more leg pains. As for clothing, try Amazon. I've scored some seriously good deals on there lately, in terms of shorts/shirts for running.

I live paycheck to paycheck and I just go out in my old sweats and a tank top (or a sweater if it's cold). I know that it's probably not cool to say this, but my shoes come from Target. Then again, I'm a beginner and i'm not doing 50 plus miles a week. With my hectic work schedule, I'm lucky if I get out there 4 times a week. Just do what's right for you. A 100 dollar investment in shoes is much better than 50 bucks a month for a gym membership.

This may not be a popular opinion, but I think most put too much stock in shoes. I started running in my 5 year old Reebok's that were so beat, I only used then to mow grass. I had to start slow, because I couldn't do anything but. I started lurking on the forums and found that I HAD to have "good shoes". Don't get me wrong, I love the way my Saucony's feel, but if I am out of town and don't have my good shoes, I will still run in my old mowing shoes. I switch back and forth between them and some minimalist shoes and never had any problems. I also don't run near as many miles as some, so my results may not count.

I love having the latest, greatest gadgets...no mater what sport I get into, but I don't think it is necessary.

Target's C9 line has some really nice tech material option for a reasonable price (for both men and women). Sometimes TJ Maxx and other discount retailers have running clothes, too.

As far as shoes, you can often get last year's colors or models for a discounted price. Shoes are definitely the most expensive thing, but at least they will last awhile and they're really the only thing you need (as opposed to sports like baseball or hockey where you need all kinds of equipment).

I agree. I have been using target clothes for years. I just bought two shirts for $20.

I live paycheck to paycheck and I just go out in my old sweats and a tank top (or a sweater if it's cold). I know that it's probably not cool to say this, but my shoes come from Target. Then again, I'm a beginner and i'm not doing 50 plus miles a week. With my hectic work schedule, I'm lucky if I get out there 4 times a week. Just do what's right for you. A 100 dollar investment in shoes is much better than 50 bucks a month for a gym membership.

As long as they are actually running shoes you are fine. I bought shoes from Dicks for like $30 when I started running. They really messed up my feet.

If your gonna spend money on anything, spend it on the shoes!! I agree, Target has some really nice tees and clothes for good prices. I think running is one of the cheapest sports out there. I don't run in anything fancy, I just run.

I spent $157 ( shipping included)and bought 21 xxxx brand tech shirts off of ebay 3 years ago. It was a bulk offer. 10 of them was brand new. All different colors. I have not bought any shirt ever since. Paid 25 bucks for an insulated windstopper jacket. I saved about 225 dollars right away. Does beautiful things on a very cold winter morning. Got all my shorts from eBay as well. I spend around $300-400 for shoes/year. 50-100 bucks/year for new sweatbands. ( I don't use hats). No gel, energy drinks, protein powder etc.. Water, bananas and all the natural goodies out there is all I need.

Theres another sport that can be even cheaper than running, if you live close by a safe lake or having free passing to the local YMCA. Swimming.

Just to agree with what everyone else has said, if you shop around even a bit you can come up on the top of the line stuff from a year or two ago for next to nothing. For everything but shoes I go to Ross or Marshalls. They will have top notch socks, shorts, shirts, windbreakers, and whatever else you need for next to nothing.

As far as shoes are concerned, I wear Guide 5s and love them. I got my first pair a year ago (the first time I actually got fitted at a running store) for 100 bucks. I just picked up the same shoe for 50 at Dicks. I'll probably go back and grab another pair before they're impossible to find. Same shoe that I know and love for half the price because the 6 is out now.

If you go to a running store and ask to be hooked up with the best of the best of the latest and greatest, you can drop a lot of coin. However, the stuff that was top of the line a year ago is just as good and a fraction of the price. Happy hunting.

Finding the gear isn't that big of a deal. Others have said, you can look around and find some really big savings, and I agree with them.

What gets expensive are the race entry fees. And there's no getting around that unless you want to do a cheap fun run. And some of those aren't really cheap or fun.

I agree that the race fees have gotten ridiculous for the big name events like RnR halfs, etc. Ev en the smaller charitable 5k-10ks are in the $35-$50 range, which I find absurd. Yet you can find bargains. Most cities have running clubs that will set up an event on the cheap.

The problem is that these races are no frills, often with few volunteers. I paid only $24 for a 15k put on by a local running club today (they charge only $14 and $19 for 5k and 10ks, respectively), but ended up going off course and running extra time due to poor markings and lack of race marshaling. The good news is the club that puts on these events holds them over the same course every month, so next time I race, I will know the course and do better.

Originally Posted by Everydog:

If I were poor, I would not burn up too many calories, or my time, running I certainly would not pay race fees as a hobby runner. Nothing wrong with being frugal either way, of course.

Most poor people probably consume more calories than richer people due to how nutritionally horrible most of the cheap food is. I'm talking unlimited refill pop, filled with high fructose corn syrup, and fatty garbage like KFC and Taco Bell.

It might be cheaper to rely on crap food from a Burger King or dollar store, and not exercise but, in the long run, doctor's/hospital bills and medications are far more costly.

I would advise anyone to shell out the perhaps $100 - $150 at most it will cost annually for discounted, high quality shoes, to run 25 miles per week. That's really all the mileage it takes to gain most of the fitness benefits of running.

In some cases, I was following a fast running, good looking, seductively clad woman. In others, I was making a half-hearted attempt to do speed work, despite my absolute hatred of it. In any case, the following results are intended for entertainment purposes only, not because I'm trying to be the next Speed Racer of running.

Some of the high-mileage runners here spend more per year on running than I do on cycling. (They have posted their shoe lists on the forum before, along with the amounts spent.) Cycling has higher start-up costs (bike, bike shoes if you have clipless pedals, helmet) but all of those items last a long time. Some people say that they have been using the same bike shoes for a decade. (Tires do need replacing and an annual bike check-up is recommended, but if you learn basic maintenance skills, you can perform most of the minor maintenance items yourself.)

That's not to say that cycling can't get expensive. It can. But there are ways to manage the costs. Not everyone needs a high-end racing bike.

I buy 2-3 pairs of shoes per month so after a year it still comes out to around $3000 or so but that's kitten play compared to my bike, ski, and car habits. I think those three hobbies total out to around $25K per year. Ooof, it hurts when I print it out like that.

Running doesn't even require a lot of shoes. A few pair per year would really do. Clothing doesn't even have to be tech material considering people ran before the invention of tech material.

While I did have to spend a significant amount the year I bought my triathlon bike, in some years, I've probably spent less than $100 on cycling-specific items. In other years, I've spent more. Then again, I guess I would have to include a bikeshare membership, since I ride those bikes frequently, in addition to my own bikes. There is plenty that I could buy, but a lot of it isn't vital or I only have to buy the items once every 3 to 10 years.

Some of the expenses are combined between cycling and running, such as sunglasses, reflective clothing (for nighttime workouts), other clothing (I usually wear running shirts, not bike jerseys, on training rides), etc. Reflective gear and lightweight winter gear are two reasons why modern clothing actually does serve a purpose. And to address a different point that others bring up or dispute, some clothing actually DOES cause chafing. It's not some myth. I've experienced this myself. Some shirts chafe during 30-minute easy runs while others don't cause any problems for me on 3-hr. runs at all. (All of the cheap tech shirts I bought my first year plus a couple of the race tech shirts I have cause this chafing. But most race tech shirts work well for long workouts.) Plus there's the comfort factor. Cotton becomes very heavy when wet. While this isn't a problem on shorter runs in moderate temperatures, it can be an issue on longer runs and in hot weather. (I'm fully expecting the usual, enraged "damn well" response from certain individuals, but then I see that same type of enraged response no matter the topic, and no matter how off-base those responses are.)

The high-mileage runners that I mentioned, have posted on the forum that they spend up to several hundred dollars a year on just running shoes. Maybe the comparison between costs isn't quite even. Bike tires wear out and need to be replaced, more often for those who bike a lot. Same with bike chains, but the life of the chains can be greatly extended through regular maintenance (lubrication and cleaning, especially after riding in the rain). That maintenance also extends the life of cassettes and chain rings. (Replacing those can get expensive.) Tire lifespan can also be extended through riding habits (not skidding on tires, avoiding roads that are frequently littered with debris and sharp objects, avoiding the edges of roads since car tires tend to push debris toward the side of roads, and so on). And not everyone burns through shoes as quickly as those runners who run 100+ miles a week on a regular basis.

I guess my point is that the difference in expenses between running and cycling, when averaged out over a few years, isn't as clear-cut as it would seem. There is the potential to go completely overboard with cycling expenses, but it's not required. A budget-conscious cyclist, for example, doesn't need to buy a new bike every year.

I've seen bikes at local stores sold for $20,000 and more with all the add-ons and expensive race wheels. (For non-cyclists out there, race wheels alone can cost more than $1,000 each.) But for those not as concerned about squeezing every last second out of their 40K time trial results, a decent hybrid bike is fine for exercise. No race wheels needed either. Some of the hybrids sell for around $500, I think. (The big box brands are not recommended, and not out of snobbery. Those bikes tend to be poorly built, which leads to frequent and expensive maintenance costs, which means that the bikes end up not being a good deal.)

***

To get back to running, there are ways to manage the costs, some more realistic than others. Other people mentioned several options. Most of my current running shoes are the lightweight Saucony Hattori, which are available online for as low as $45 during clearance sales. (The model doesn't seem to be that popular, so there have been some good deals. However, because people aren't buying the model, most stores no longer carry them or only carry a few sizes.) But I've run into chafing issues on longer runs with the Hattori, on the side of my toe. So I've added a different type of shoe (which is more expensive than the Hattoris).

Since I have several different pairs of shoes in rotation, they don't seem to be wearing out that quickly. I haven't had to buy any new running shoes this year. (That's also because I don't run 100 miles a week or anywhere close to that amount.)

A 100 mile/week runner is a full-on enthusiast. An analogous cyclist will be on a bike costing several thousand dollars and every serious cyclist I know owns more than one bike. We all have stables, along with enough gear to fill the garage and we refresh with new equipment regularly. Then you have peripheral stuff like roof racks, indoor trainers, computers, power meters, etc. Even if you bought one pair of running shoes every week you'd still only be at about the cost of one high end bike without all the accessories.

A casual cyclist may have one bike for general purpose use. An analogous casual runner only needs one pair of midlevel shoes. Very inexpensive.

If a runner is wanting to cycle for cross training, and not get "into" cycling racing... Craigslist is a gold mine. Just this morning I saw a mid 70's era Schwinn Le Tour for $50. That was a premium bike back then, and would be a great bike for general fitness.

Not sure if this has been mentioned but if you don't mind second hand/pre-loved then you can pick up some bargains on ebay, especially when it's not the big brands. Also, it might be worth putting an advert on Freecycle (if you have it in Canada); you never know, a runner might just pass you their unwanted kit.

Swimming. Cheap swimsuits don't harm your muscles or leave you vulnerable to injury. Caps are less than a buck, and nice goggles $10. You can suit yourself up for training for a year for under $40. Open water here for 9 months out of the year, and a $12/month Y membership for the winter. Cheapest sport I ever participated in. Loved it!

About running gear, do check out online sales, especially runningwarehouse (dot com) in their Liquidation section. There are also easily google-able 15% off codes for that store, which make the shoes so much more affordable. It will be more of a pain for you, since you'll have to try out the shoes once they ship them to you - they do ship to Canada, but not sure how much that will cost. If the shoes don't fit or don't feel right you can send them back - but again, in Canada that might be a lengthier process than in the US.

Your best bet is to find any kind of small running store, and try the shoes on there - figure out which type suits your foot and stride, then order them online when you find a great deal. You'll probably end up with last year's version after trying on this year's version in the store, but google/forums will tell you if the manufacturer has made a significant change in the shoe in that year transition.

Do you have resale shops near you? Or one of those discount stores like Marshall's or TJMaxx, where they take overstocks and stuff and sell them on a big discount.?? Those are great. Don't worry about name brands in the clothing - just look for tech fabric and shorts that don't ride up or bind, and you can use any brand at all. Avoid cotton.

Finally, you don't need a lot of different sets of running clothes - one of the great things about tech fabrics is they are quick dry, so washing them after a run and hanging them to dry will give you fresh clothes for the next day's run, and you can have a really limited amount of clothing and still run every day if you like.

I live paycheck to paycheck and I just go out in my old sweats and a tank top (or a sweater if it's cold). I know that it's probably not cool to say this, but my shoes come from Target. Then again, I'm a beginner and i'm not doing 50 plus miles a week. With my hectic work schedule, I'm lucky if I get out there 4 times a week. Just do what's right for you. A 100 dollar investment in shoes is much better than 50 bucks a month for a gym membership.

This may not be a popular opinion, but I think most put too much stock in shoes. I started running in my 5 year old Reebok's that were so beat, I only used then to mow grass. I had to start slow, because I couldn't do anything but. I started lurking on the forums and found that I HAD to have "good shoes". Don't get me wrong, I love the way my Saucony's feel, but if I am out of town and don't have my good shoes, I will still run in my old mowing shoes. I switch back and forth between them and some minimalist shoes and never had any problems. I also don't run near as many miles as some, so my results may not count.

I love having the latest, greatest gadgets...no mater what sport I get into, but I don't think it is necessary.

I love that you can run in beat up old sneakers. I love that I could start running with a ten dollar pair from Walmart. I have what I would consider "weak feet" or "weak arches", and so far, I have not had a problem with my 10 dollar shoes or the 30 dollar ones I replaced them with. That's what's beautiful about running. You can do it in minimalist shoes or shoes that look super high tech and have all kinds of arch support and all that. I think people get too caught up with the gadgets as well. it's like people who have apps telling them to do x amount of pushups for y amount of time, then run while your phone tells you to and walk when it tells you to and drink water when it tells you to and all that. Let's get back to basics, folks!

Your best bet is to find any kind of small running store, and try the shoes on there - figure out which type suits your foot and stride, then order them online when you find a great deal. You'll probably end up with last year's version after trying on this year's version in the store, but google/forums will tell you if the manufacturer has made a significant change in the shoe in that year transition.

Sort of a scummy way to roll, unless you buy something from the little guy at least some time.

You don't need shoes? I disagree. You need decent running shoes or you won't be running for very long.

I know I don't live in a country with huge national parks, exotic surfaces or anything but I have yet to discover a place here on Funen (an island in Denmark) which isn't barefoot runnable.

It's all about adapting to surfaces, whether it is in shoes or without shoes... If you only run on grass (with or without shoes) you'll notice a difference when you hit the roads.

actually I couldn't care less about all those "grandfathers of barefoot running" who write books on how to do this and that. But that is not what the OP's question was about. Runnig without shoes is cheaper and it is possible to run long distances without shoes.

A 100 mile/week runner is a full-on enthusiast. An analogous cyclist will be on a bike costing several thousand dollars and every serious cyclist I know owns more than one bike. We all have stables, along with enough gear to fill the garage and we refresh with new equipment regularly. Then you have peripheral stuff like roof racks, indoor trainers, computers, power meters, etc. Even if you bought one pair of running shoes every week you'd still only be at about the cost of one high end bike without all the accessories.

A casual cyclist may have one bike for general purpose use. An analogous casual runner only needs one pair of midlevel shoes. Very inexpensive.

Depends on whether you are only talking about sports and fitness workouts. For those who are able to go car-free and use a bike, even a 2nd bike, for errands and commuting (with the occasional rental car or taxi for occasional trips that require carrying heavier loads), you can actually save as much as thousands of dollars a year. While I recognize that this isn't practical for everyone in every situation (depends on local bike infrastructure, safe roads, distance from work, whether or not you commute to work, availability of bike parking or bikeshare systems, and so on), for those who do make this work, it's possible to have a racing bike and a commuter/errand bike and still save thousands of dollars a year.

I know there are other variables. Some runners could run-commute but I think that's relatively rare. I don't think I've ever met anyone that run-commutes on a regular basis, but I know of many bike-commuters. Others work from home so they wouldn't need to do much commuting at all. And other people bike-commute but still own a car. (However, those people would still save money because they save on gas costs as well as parking fees. In major cities, daily parking can be quite a lot, from $10-15 a day or higher. That's $200-300 a month in parking fees, unless you get a monthly spot.) Bike commuting is still a low percentage of all commuters, but it is increasing, particularly in some major metro areas. Just pointing this out, that you could actually have two bikes and related equipment and actually save money each year, if you are able to go car-free.

Many people in cities can walk to work, but most people won't do that beyond a certain distance, perhaps 10 to 20 minutes away at walking speed. I don't know too many people who run-commute to work, because they get too sweaty. Bike-commuting also makes someone sweaty, but much less than running in equal conditions. The wind offers some cooling and the non-weight bearing nature requires a bit less exertion per mile.

(Note that this is not a simple answer, in answer to some critics out there, [not you Toecutter]. But in real life, most issues are not simple and have different answers, depending on different circumstances and people. I hate to beat a dead horse, but given the harassment from some quarters -- for FIVE YEARS -- well, yes, I get tired of the authoritarian nonsense, of TELLING people not to post long messages and then turning around and creating even longer threads. This paragraph is not directed at you, Toecutter.)

I live paycheck to paycheck and I just go out in my old sweats and a tank top (or a sweater if it's cold). I know that it's probably not cool to say this, but my shoes come from Target. Then again, I'm a beginner and i'm not doing 50 plus miles a week. With my hectic work schedule, I'm lucky if I get out there 4 times a week. Just do what's right for you. A 100 dollar investment in shoes is much better than 50 bucks a month for a gym membership.

This may not be a popular opinion, but I think most put too much stock in shoes. I started running in my 5 year old Reebok's that were so beat, I only used then to mow grass. I had to start slow, because I couldn't do anything but. I started lurking on the forums and found that I HAD to have "good shoes". Don't get me wrong, I love the way my Saucony's feel, but if I am out of town and don't have my good shoes, I will still run in my old mowing shoes. I switch back and forth between them and some minimalist shoes and never had any problems. I also don't run near as many miles as some, so my results may not count.

I love having the latest, greatest gadgets...no mater what sport I get into, but I don't think it is necessary.

I love that you can run in beat up old sneakers. I love that I could start running with a ten dollar pair from Walmart. I have what I would consider "weak feet" or "weak arches", and so far, I have not had a problem with my 10 dollar shoes or the 30 dollar ones I replaced them with. That's what's beautiful about running. You can do it in minimalist shoes or shoes that look super high tech and have all kinds of arch support and all that. I think people get too caught up with the gadgets as well. it's like people who have apps telling them to do x amount of pushups for y amount of time, then run while your phone tells you to and walk when it tells you to and drink water when it tells you to and all that. Let's get back to basics, folks!

Maybe I'm some kind of freak, but I have been averaging 55-60mpw on the same shoes for about 8 months with no problems. They aren't anything super special, just some discontinued New Balance trainers I bought for $35 at a discount store. Sure, the fabric is a bit torn and frayed, the heels are worn down so I had to put in some Dr. Scholl's heel inserts, but they have served me well for about 2,000 miles, with no discomfort.

Sometimes I think the hype about replacing your shoes at the slightest sign of wear, or alternately after 500 miles (due to the cushioning wearing down) is just PR from the shoe companies to get people to buy their products more often than they actually need to. Sure, the cushioning and outer structure will wear down over time, but my experience is that my feet and legs adapt to this gradual change. They toughen up as the cushioning decreases, which is kind of the idea behind minimalist shoes and barefoot running, isn't it?

I laugh to think that I have pounded my trainers so hard into the dust that I have, in effect, created my own "minimalist" shoes, without the expensive price tag. And when I say "pounded" that's exactly what I mean. When I started out with these shoes, I was close to 250lbs. Now I'm down to about 190lbs.

Running is a lot simpler than most people have been led to believe.

In some cases, I was following a fast running, good looking, seductively clad woman. In others, I was making a half-hearted attempt to do speed work, despite my absolute hatred of it. In any case, the following results are intended for entertainment purposes only, not because I'm trying to be the next Speed Racer of running.

OK. I'm fascinated by this situation. My wife just bough a pair or Nike running shoes for $179 (claims they are the only ones that fit her properly). At the same time I bought a pair of mid-to-upper range K2 inline skates. They have a fairly complex soft shoe enclosed with a hard plastic shell, a metal chassis & 8 wheels with bearings. They also cost $179. Somebody please explain that for me!

It's easy to see that the inline skates, with a fairly complicated list of components might cost $30 - $50 to manufacture. The running shoes? Hard to see - even with "higher-end" materials - how they could cost more than about $10.

Depends on whether you are only talking about sports and fitness workouts. For those who are able to go car-free and use a bike, even a 2nd bike, for errands and commuting (with the occasional rental car or taxi for occasional trips that require carrying heavier loads), you can actually save as much as thousands of dollars a year. While I recognize that this isn't practical for everyone in every situation (depends on local bike infrastructure, safe roads, distance from work, whether or not you commute to work, availability of bike parking or bikeshare systems, and so on), for those who do make this work, it's possible to have a racing bike and a commuter/errand bike and still save thousands of dollars a year.

I know there are other variables. Some runners could run-commute but I think that's relatively rare. I don't think I've ever met anyone that run-commutes on a regular basis, but I know of many bike-commuters. Others work from home so they wouldn't need to do much commuting at all. And other people bike-commute but still own a car. (However, those people would still save money because they save on gas costs as well as parking fees. In major cities, daily parking can be quite a lot, from $10-15 a day or higher. That's $200-300 a month in parking fees, unless you get a monthly spot.) Bike commuting is still a low percentage of all commuters, but it is increasing, particularly in some major metro areas. Just pointing this out, that you could actually have two bikes and related equipment and actually save money each year, if you are able to go car-free.

Many people in cities can walk to work, but most people won't do that beyond a certain distance, perhaps 10 to 20 minutes away at walking speed. I don't know too many people who run-commute to work, because they get too sweaty. Bike-commuting also makes someone sweaty, but much less than running in equal conditions. The wind offers some cooling and the non-weight bearing nature requires a bit less exertion per mile.

(Note that this is not a simple answer, in answer to some critics out there, [not you Toecutter]. But in real life, most issues are not simple and have different answers, depending on different circumstances and people. I hate to beat a dead horse, but given the harassment from some quarters -- for FIVE YEARS -- well, yes, I get tired of the authoritarian nonsense, of TELLING people not to post long messages and then turning around and creating even longer threads. This paragraph is not directed at you, Toecutter.)

I'm not quite sure what the heck you were trying to say there but the simple answer is that running is just about the least expensive sport out there, much cheaper than bicycling or skiing for example.

I think running is promoted so heavily as a "cheap" sport (you just need shoes and just get out of the house!) that you can get these reactions from people.

I ran consistently for two years before I got "obsessed." I would run 4-5 times per week for 30 minutes and 30 seconds (I do not view the first 30 seconds of a run as real exercise). I would usually run on the treadmill (I have had the same gym membership for almost 20 years, but I also live in a condo with a gym), occasionally outdoors (I don't like to exercise outdoors unless conditions and location are ideal). I would use my usual cross-trainers (which are about 5 years old) and my usual gym clothes.

When I registered for a half-marathon last year, then I got "real" running shoes. I'm having to wrap my head around the idea that I should replace my shoes every year. I started doing longer runs and now do 2-3 long runs (around 12 miles) per month. I figure I would need shorts with zipped pockets. OMG, who knew zippers are so expensive?

And, yeah, races are expensive. In Canada, Mountain Equipment Co-Op are staging races that are only $15 bucks. I'm doing a half next week in Richmond, British Columbia. While I will support my first race I registered (and as I live in the city, I think it's an event the city should have), I will probably only do "destination" races. I figure, I would've paid, say, $100 for a ticket to a Broadway show in NYC but why not use that money to do a race?